Unlocking Autonomy: How ABA Therapy Supports Individuals with Autism

Independence Through Behavior Analysis.

Millions of individuals worldwide are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It can impact various aspects of a person’s life including cognition, social interaction, communication, and daily living skills.

People with ASD deserve fruitful specialized support & interventions to achieve independence.

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is an evidence-based and widely recognized approach that can play a critical role in fostering independence and socialization in individuals with autism.

In this article, we’ll be exploring the key aspects of ABA & its positive influences for those with ASD.

What Are BCBAs & ABA Therapists?

Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) are graduate-level educated clinicians with an extensive background in ABA. These behavioral professionals typically lead a team of RBTs and manage treatment programs in ABA clinics, in-school, or in-home service settings.

The role responsibilities of a BCBA include:

• Assessing & identifying maladaptive behaviors
• Developing individualized treatment programs
• Multidisciplinary collaboration with clients’ existing care team
• Parent/Caregiver training to ensure skills are generalized

BCBAs are also responsible for the adjustment of treatment programs and goals based upon evolving clients needs and progression.

ABA therapists, also known as behaviorists, behavioral therapists (BTs), or Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) once certified, are professionals specialized in working with ASD.

ABA therapists’ role responsibilities include:

• Guiding & empowering clients to acquire new skills
• Implementing behavioral strategies aligned to ABA best practices to address behaviors
• Observation & data collection on clients’ progression towards meeting goals

ABA therapists improve communication and socialization skills by working closely with autistic individuals.

ABA Interventions for Autism

Interventions of ABA are individualized and comprehensive, addressing a broad range of skills. Skills targeted are often aligned with needs in the areas of communication, socialization, academia, and daily living skills.

Corresponding therapy involves long-term treatment spanning 1–3 years on average, which typically consists of 20–40 hours of weekly therapy depending on the age, needs, capabilities, and thresholds of those receiving care.

Positive reinforcement is a primary feature of ABA therapy, as it encourages behavioral changes over time through reward systems encompassing social praise, access to preferred activities, and items or toys.

The following case studies assert the positive impacts of behavioral therapy on autistic children:

1. Communication Triumphs —

Case Study: Emily, a 5-year-old with limited verbal communication skills, began ABA therapy. Over time, she progressed to effectively using a communication device to express her preferences and needs. With the support of ABA and the efforts of her parents, Emily said “I love you” to them for the very first time.

Key Takeaway: For nonverbal individuals, communication skills can be unlocked with the support of ABA therapy.

2. Behavioral Improvements —

Case Study: Eric, an 11-year-old, exhibited challenging behaviors such as self-injury and aggression. These behaviors were addressed through ABA therapy by teaching him alternative ways to communicate frustrations. He and his loved ones benefitted from a significant reduction in aggressive incidents.

Key Takeaway: Autistic children & their families experiencing self-endangering aggressive behaviors can be empowered to effectively & safely manage with ABA therapy.

3. Independence Achieved —

Case Study: Samantha, a teen with ASD, struggled with daily living skills. Her ABA therapy program targeted self-care routines, hygiene, and cooking. Samantha gained her independence, learned to dress herself and prepare meals, and was able to celebrate her newly acquired skills with her family.

Key Takeaway: ABA therapy can develop functional skills & promote independence.

ABA Therapy for Adults

Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) is not only limited to therapeutic interventions for children, nor is it only applicable to diagnoses of ASD.

It can significantly benefit adults as well. Let’s explore how:

• Skill Acquisition — ABA supports adults with autism or other developmental disabilities in acquiring essential life skills. This may be accomplished by building upon existing self-care, communication, social interaction, and vocational skills.

For example, an adult with ASD might learn strategies for effectively expressing emotions, needs & preferences.

• Workplace Success — ABA interventions have the potential to support adults preparing for employment. Essential components of this approach would include targeting workplace etiquette, time management, and relevant job skills.

ABA therapists & employers typically collaborate throughout the job placement process.

• Anxiety Reduction & Improved Coping Mechanisms — Adults with ASD and similar developmental disabilities often experience challenges with anxiety-related sensory sensitivities, transitions, and unexpected change. ABA strategies can support the management of anxiety symptoms and teach coping mechanisms.

Implementing techniques such as desensitization, relaxation exercises & visual schedules can profoundly improve quality of life.

• Independence & Functional Living — ABA can foster independence in completing daily living activities. Adults are taught skills such as shopping, cleaning, budgeting, cooking, and use of public transportation.

For instance, an autistic adult may seek ABA therapy to support themselves in learning to independently navigate public places & resources.

• Self-Advocacy — ABA therapy encourages and empowers adults to advocate for themselves when necessary. They’re taught to seek accommodations, assert boundaries, and express needs.

Self-advocacy is a critical skill needed to access services, make informed decisions & participate in social activities.

Evidence-Based Practices

A multitude of valuable studies corroborate the effectiveness of ABA interventions in improving outcomes for autistic children. Such studies and supportive claims have come from the National Institute of Child Health & Human Development and the U.S. Surgeon General citing ABA therapy as a highly effective evidence-based practice for treating ASD.

Progression in language development, daily living skills, intellectual functioning, and socialization are among the benefits available to autistic individuals.

ABA Misconceptions

The misconceptions surrounding ABA therapy typically arise due to a lack of accurate public information, misunderstandings, and confusion about this approach to care.

Here are a few facts aligned to current misconceptions:

• Misconception — ABA therapy aims to be an autism cure.
• Fact — Despite the frequent spread of misinformation on this matter, there is no “cure” for autism and the goal of ABA is not to be or find one. Instead, the focus is on fostering independenceand developing an array of skills to support and allow individuals with and without autism to thrive in their uniqueness.
• Misconception — ABA therapy is unnatural & forced, expecting robotic behavior from autistic individuals.
• Fact — Recent advancements in ABA place high value on naturalistic teaching methods through the incorporation of real-life and naturally occurring environments. Blind compliance and control are not at the forefront of ABA practices, this is even less true of modern applications. Contrastly, practical applications of learned skills allow therapists to enhance social interactions, daily functioning, and adaptive behaviors.
• Misconceptions — ABA therapy is only for children with autism.
• Fact — Applied behavior analysis extends beyond autism, and can produce benefits to individuals across the lifespan. ABA is not solely rooted in autism either, as the science was developed around comprehensively understanding behavior.

ABA therapy is a highly individualized approach to various behavioral challenges, whether experienced by autistic individuals, neurotypical adults, entire organizations, or otherwise.

Misconceptions can create a barrier to understanding & receiving effective interventions.

A Need For Trauma-Informed Care

The aforementioned misconceptions primarily come from the circulation of false information about autism and misunderstandings in relation to ABA. Unfortunately, some autistic adults have previously experienced ABA through its dated initial practices that are no longer used today, which contributes to the negative stigma surrounding the field.

Individuals receiving services may have also experienced personal traumas that contribute to their behaviors. These histories must be considered when providing care.

The experiences of these autistic individuals shouldn’t be suppressed, silenced, or dismissed.

As professionals of the field, we have a responsibility to avoid harm and advocate for the marginalized. For these reasons, ABA therapy needs to be conducted through a trauma-informed lens.

Understanding the importance & implementation of trauma-informed care (TIC) in the context of ABA is important:

1. Screening & Assessments — The addition of trauma-related intake processes and screening tools is crucial to preserving TIC. These tools provide valuable insight into historical experiences with triggering stimuli, reinforcement, and punishment. Identifying such factors allows behavior analysts to effectively tailor interventions.
2. Ethical Alignment — Principles within the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) Ethics Code align with trauma-informed care, and maximizing benefits while enforcing harm reduction. For instance:

• Code 1.07: Cultural Responsiveness & Diversity, requiring ABA professionals to maintain cultural awareness and consider diverse backgrounds.
• Code 2.15: Minimizing Risk of Behavior-Change Interventions, requiring ABA professionals to assess the potential risks in behavior-change interventions before treatment.

3. Acknowledging Traumatic History — Atrauma-informed approach to ABA acknowledges the adverse events experienced by many people with an intellectual disability. This is key, since these occurrences often shape responses to interventions and influence observed behaviors.

4. Balancing Progress & Safety — Behaviors such as elopement and aggression may have previously served as protective mechanisms for victims of trauma. These concerns must be navigated considerately and delicately, as they can impede progress in some settings.

In the field of ABA, trauma-informed care extends beyond behavior modifications. It requires empathy, ethics, and cultural sensitivity of behavioral professionals.

Conclusion

As we continue to advance the rapidly evolving field of applied behavior analysis, the potential of ABA is further unlocked. Individuals with autism have gained independence, valuable skills, and a brighter future overall through related interventions.

By acknowledging the potential of ABA therapy & the effectiveness of behavioral interventions, we can promote a more supportive & inclusive world for people with autism.

*This article was originally published in Mindful Mental Health

Resources:

– https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Ethics-Code-for-Behavior-Analysts-240201-a.pdf

– https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Behavioral-Treatment-of-Autism-and-Other-Developmental-Disabilities-Fact-Sheet_230306-a.pdf

– https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK207192/

– https://www.appliedbehavioranalysisedu.org/how-is-naturalistic-teaching-used-in-aba/

• http://profiles.nlm.nih.gov/ps/access/NNBBHS.pdf